Thoughts from a human rights activist & world traveler

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The next adventure – Nicaragua & Women’s Rights

Life is about to change (again) – in a few weeks I will be moving to Nicaragua to take part in a six-month internship program working with a grass roots women’s rights organization. My passion for social justice and love for Latin America first took root more than ten years ago when, at sixteen years of age, I spent a week volunteering at an orphanage in Venezuela. A lot has happened in the intervening years and I am excited to be at a place in my career where I have the opportunity to work directly in the field for a cause I deeply believe in.

I will be working as a Gender Equality Outreach Worker with the organization el Colectivo de Mujeres el 8 de Marzo (CM8M), which in English translates to the Women’s Collective – March 8th (International Women’s Day). CM8M is based in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, and provides educational and social intervention programs for marginalized young girls, teenagers and women in the area of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, women’s rights, domestic violence and citizenship participation. Through their work CM8M helps empower local women and youth to become aware of their rights and to fully take part in the democratic life of their community.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Central America and many people there, particularly women, do not enjoy the same freedoms, equality, social assistance or opportunities that we do here in Canada. The work of CM8M is essential to helping create a more equal, prosperous and peaceful Nicaragua.

My internship is fully funded through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and is coordinated by the Quebec international development organization CS/TR, which has worked in partnership with CM8M for nearly a decade. In order to help support the project I have been asked to fundraise $1000. All money raised goes directly to CM8M and their work. I would like to ask you to please consider giving to this important organization.

Tax receipts can be issued for any donation made above $20. You can make a donation online on CS/TR’s website here: https://www.jedonneenligne.org/cs3r/frm_detail.php?FrmUID=10 Please make sure to choose my name (Sarah Topa) from the list when it asks you: Quel est le nom du ou de la stagiaire qui vous a parlé de notre programme de stages.

International development and the global promotion of human rights really is a collective effort, so thank you for your support and solidarity.